Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-04-14
a MARVELLOUS CASE.
a Woman with a Iumor Weighing One
Hundred and Eight Pounds.

the abdominal wall She was the mother
of nine children, and had been well up to
within few months of her admission.
The tumor, when first noticed, was about
the size OF hens egg, and disappeared on
pressure 1t caused her no pain or other
Inconvenience, and its presence was for the
time being, ignored. 1t grew so rapidly,
however, that she was compelled to seek
medical advice. and when first examined 1t
was as large as a good sized watermelon
At first it was attached by broad-oase.
but as it grew heavier it hung down by its
own weight and became pear-shaped- Later
she was unable to walk with 1t thus de-
pending from her, and was compelled to
remain in bed Her appetite kept pace
with the growth of the tumor, but so much
nourishment was required to sustain II
that her body soon began to fail, and she
rapidly emaciated as the mass continued us
steady march onward.
She was kept under observation for sew
eral weeks, during which time the growth
reached an immense size, and it was diff
cult to tell, as she lay there with the tumor
beside her, whether it was attached to her
or she to it, the skin of the body being con-
tinuous over the tumor. 1t resembled some
huge black animal more than human be-
ing.
No possible cause for the growth could be
ascertained, either from her past history
or an SAduiHaIlOH Oh INC shAA0 IL w d.
simply considered one of those strange
freaks of nature which we are continually
encountering in life.
The tulnoP measured in its long axis 6312
inches and ia its circumference ~ inches.
The circumference of the neck Of the tu-
NOR was 81 inches. 1t was quite solid III
consistence, and was so heavy that it was
with difficulty the nurses were enabled to
change her bed-linen. The patient was, Of
course, aware of the serious nature of her
disease, but was one of those simple-minded
colored women who knew little beyond
trusting in the Lord, and to Him she looked
for aid and prayed that she might be again
able to return to the bosom of her family.
In the few weeks she was in this city she
lost flesh so rapidly that she actually grew
smaller than the t9moP
No one, having not seen her, can imagine
what strange sight it was-a living being
inseparably attached TO huge mass which
she bad 10 nourish and which was Of no
possible good TO the animal economy, AS
she failed so rapidly an operation was de-
cided on as last resort, in the hope that
after this constant drain on the system was
removed she might be able to muster up
sufficient strength to maintain her wasting
form. After the body has become ac-
cpstenea TO pourishing an abnormal
growth of THIS kind, even ef rather small
dimensions, its removal is always attended
by considerable shock to the system.
Think then, of the extreme prostration at
tending the removal of the tumor, which
weighed more than the patient. Every
thing was carefully arranged to resuscitate
her after the operation, the assistants were
eaa4l assigned their dutaY and position, and
every possible precaution taken 70 prevent
any accident.
The patient having been etherized, the
tumor was cut through near It's attachment
to the body with few strokes of the
knife. 1t was found to originate from the
walls of the abdomen, and not to conlmuni-
cate with the abdominal cavity or con.
tainsd organs, Numerous large blood
vessels, however, Merq found run
ming into 1t and spreading out through its
substance. The chief difficulty consisted
IN stopping the bleeding from these YES
sells, aHd for a time her life was despaired
of, so persistently did this continue
Finally it ceased, and the further steps of
the operation were hastily conducted. The
skin had in part been stripped up from the
neck of the tumor, and with this the wound
was elosld, the t:yo flaps being stitched to-
gether. At this time the patient vas in
such a state of collapse that it required ac-
tive stimulation internally and artificial
warmth externally to bring her back tt
life. She was then placed in warm room
the wound being carefully bandaged and
the most untiring watch kept up day and
night
Hot milk and whisky were the principal
things given by the mouth with large
quantities of morphine by the arms Her
temperature was taken every half hour
and careful record kept of the fever
line. The fever rose to a considerable
height during the first twenty-four hours,
and continued high for several days, then
gradually subsidized. Her appetite in
creased, color returned to her lips, her
voice became stronger, AND she gained in
weight. Every thing seemed favorable for
a successful outcome, and the poor woman
looked forward with ineXpressible joy to
her return home.
Every little trife, such as flowers, which
could in any way contribute to her pleas
IRE or comfort, was brought to her bed |
side, that she might have something TO di-
vert her attention from her own mis-
fortune and suffering Her husband, who
had been with her from the first, did all in
his power to console and encourage her
Every thing progressed favorably for
about week, when, suddenly, complica-
ton set in, and she rapidly sank Not
withstanding all that could be done for
her, she died inside of twenty-four hours
The tumor and woman were weighed sepsl-
rately, and the former weighed one hun
dred and eight pounds, while the latter
only weighed eighty pounds. The physi-
clans were anxious to save the tumor
which was found to pc fatty in character,
and, having no jar large enough to contain
it, barrel was used, being filled with al
cohol. 1t is still preserved, and is now
one of the chief attractions of the museum
of the institution.
nFS.